Somebody Owes Howard Dean an Apology
Thanks to Mark from Carlisle for sending this in
From Common Dreams News Center
Dean Sees Red Over Code Orange
by Joe Conason
Somebody owes Howard Dean an apology.
Over the
past few days, the former Vermont governor and Democratic Presidential
candidate has endured a barrage of bad press and nasty commentary,
simply because he expressed honest doubts about the government’s latest
terror alarm. Republican pundits and politicians predictably denounced
him. Senator John Kerry disowned Dr. Dean’s remarks, and Senator Joe
Lieberman went further, suggesting that anyone who harbors such doubts
must not be “in their right mind.”
In
short, to think that the Bush administration might issue an alert for
political advantage is a symptom of madness. The latest news reports,
however, indicate that Dr. Dean’s suspicions were hardly unfounded.
On Aug.
1, as every alert citizen knows, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge
held an unusual Sunday press conference to announce that the Bush
administration had raised its color-coded threat level from yellow to
orange in certain selected places—in New York and New Jersey’s
financial centers and the World Bank headquarters in Washington, D.C.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Ridge told America that the decision was
provoked by “new and unusually specific information.”
(more)
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Wednesday, August 4
Somebody Owes Howard Dean an Apology
by
Linda Thieman
on Wed 04 Aug 2004 10:47 PM CDT
News & Notes from DFIA & Deanland
by
Linda Thieman
on Wed 04 Aug 2004 07:07 PM CDT
News & Notes from DFIA & Deanland
Media Trounces Dean for Speaking Truth...Again! I don't know how you could have possibly missed Howard Dean being the top story everywhere for speaking the truth about the junta's media manipulation, but just in case, here's an article about it. Now, this article is from the International Herald Tribune. Seems like the international papers see the story as the junta manipulating the terror alerts, but the American media see the story as "What Howard Dean Said This Time!" Go figure. "There have been cracks in the Democratic restraint. The former presidential candidate Howard Dean said plainly that the administration might be manipulating terror warnings for political gain, and to steal the Democrats' thunder." What? Just because they waited 4 years to release the information? International Herald Tribune Dean To Appear With Jon Stewart OK, I'm taking this directly off the BFA site, which has improved in quality lately thanks to some fresh blood. Governor Dean Guest Hosts Topic A See Howard Dean as the guest host of "Topic [A] with Tina Brown" this weekend: Sunday, August 8th Airing at 7:00 p.m. CDT and 10:00 p.m. CDT on CNBC The upcoming election, the electronic voting system and the potential for lost votes and computer hacking are of great concern to many Americans. Joining Governor Dean to discuss the E-voting issue are Author/Digital Activist Bev Harris and California Secretary of State Kevin Shelley. Harris will also demonstrate how easy it is to access and hack into a computer and the ominous implications of the E-voting system. Dean will also be joined by Jon Stewart from "The Daily Show" for a one-on-one discussion about the success of his Comedy Central program with the 25 and under set; the approach his show takes to the news, their spin on the media at large, and of course, Stewart's jabs at Dean on the campaign trail. In a roundtable discussion about the issue of race in this country will be Tavis Smiley, NPR radio host and syndicated radio host Tom Leykis discussing recent comments about the black family made by actor Bill Cosby at a Rainbow Coalition event. In addition, outspoken Actor/Comedian Margaret Cho will talk to Dean about her widely anticipated stand up tour, "State of Emergency," which launches next month. "I am delighted to be stepping in for Tina this week. This is an opportunity to speak about issues that can change this country," said Dean. "I am glad to have this opportunity to discuss topics that are of relevance to all Americans." DFIA Delegate Makes New England Paper Check out this story in Bay Windows: New England's Largest Gay & Lesbian Newspaper. It's called "GLBT Presence High at DNC," and there is absolutely the cutest photo of Christina Butts right at the top of the article! She's even got a Dean button on her...um, would you call that a hat? Antlers? Bunny ears? Bay Windows
What You Can Do: A Message from Voters Unite!
by
Linda Thieman
on Wed 04 Aug 2004 11:39 AM CDT
What You Can Do: A Message from Voters Unite!
United Voters! As the election draws closer, the likelihood of changes in voting systems decreases (with a few notable exceptions). So, most of us are focusing more and more on how to increase the chances of an accurate election, given the equipment that is already in place. Here are some things you can do. —Volunteer for Poll Watching BlackBoxVoting is organizing an "election watch crew". http://www.blackboxvoting.org/ VerifiedVoting.org is organizing "TechWatch." http://vevo.verifiedvoting.org/techwatch/ Informed poll watching can make a difference. Read about the work Roxanne Jekot's group of 150 volunteers did in the Georgia primary. Then join in the efforts of a national org, or work with other concerned citizens in your area to be a well- informed election observer. —Advocate Accountability Procedures One of the new items on our Info page links to our recommended accountability procedures for counties using optical scan machines. This page was developed as a cooperative effort between VotersUnite! and Concerned Citizens for Democratic Integrity (King County – Seattle), with some input from Bev Harris. http://www.votersunite.org/info/OSprocedures.asp If you live in an optical scan county, consult with your local election officials. See if they are following the minimum accountability procedures. Many of them probably are. In particular, talk with them about testing and about establishing auditing procedures — not recount procedures, but manual counts in a randomly-selected percentage of precincts to check whether the machines read and counted the votes correctly. Go here to find information about which machines your Iowa county uses and to get the name of your county auditor. —Object to New E-Voting Purchases We have a request from New Mexico, and we need all of you to participate. Help stop Bernalillo County (Albuquerque) from buying more Sequoia AVC Edge electronic voting machines. Remember Bernalillo County? 48,000 people voted on the touch screens in November, 2002. Only 36,000 of their votes were counted. The 25% error went unnoticed for 10 days until an attorney noticed it. Sequoia technicians claim they were able to reconstruct the data and determine the actual vote counts. (See our "Mess-up Du Jour" from July 9.) A recent article in the Albuquerque Tribune quotes Mary Herrera, Bernalillo County Clerk as saying: "We have never experienced any election in which all votes have not been counted." New Mexico activists tell us that Bernalillo County is poised to make a very large purchase shortly, and the county's decision is likely to set the standard for the state. CALL AND OBJECT! - Call 505 768-4085, then press 1 when the message starts. - Ask for county clerk Mary Herrera or her assistant. - Tell them you are calling to request that they do not purchase any more of these unreliable voting systems for Bernalillo County. Even if you live outside NM, call and let them know where you are calling from. You are a stake holder in New Mexico elections. You have a right to be heard. - For talking points about other Sequoia AVC Edge disasters, see: http://www.votersunite.org/info/Sequoiainthenews.pdf —Keep Educating Yourself and Others - Hand-deliver "Myth Breakers for Election Officials" to your local official, if you haven't already. [Actually, Alta went on a well-organized delivery spree a couple of weeks ago and it looks like we've got Myth Breakers and the ES&S supplement delivered to all but 12 Iowa counties. Woo-hoo! More details to follow.] - Keep up on the voting news: http://www.votersunite.org/news.asp - Visit our "Mess-up Du Jour" each day for a brief description of an election problem — a different one each day. http://www.votersunite.org/info/mess-updujour.asp - Check our Info page periodically for new activist materials and ideas. http://www.votersunite.org/info.asp - Take your concerns off-line by speaking to friends and neighbors about it. Let them know that paper ballots are essential. Speak at local meetings. - Put anti-e-voting stickers on all the letters you send out: http://www.votersunite.org/info/label-instructions.asp - Write letters to your local newspaper. Over and over and over. The press is beginning to catch on. Tell them the facts. "We should not be silenced." ~ John Gideon —Don't Get Discouraged The movement is growing. More people are becoming aware. More officials are taking a stand for paper ballots. More newspapers are publishing editorials opposing paperless voting. (May the gods smile on the New York Times editorial board.) Because of all us 'ants,' each doing our little part, the November election looks much brighter than it would have if we had all been sleeping for the past year. Keep up the good work! You never know what good thing might happen tomorrow. ~ the VotersUnite! team
Iowa's 4th Congressional District Race Heats Up
by
Linda Thieman
on Wed 04 Aug 2004 05:02 AM CDT
Iowa's 4th Congressional District Race Heats Up
Ames Tribune In a letter deriding "money from the biggest special interests to run the dirtiest television advertisements," Democratic congressional candidate Paul Johnson asked Republican incumbent Rep. Tom Latham to instead debate in every county in the 4th District Comparing the campaign process to a job interview "for a job that pays $158,100 per year with full health care benefits," Johnson of Decorah said Iowa voters are "sick and tired of ... vicious, negative TV commercials against challengers." "Why don't we just skip all that and plan to hold a forum in each of the 28 counties in the district?" Johnson wrote. "After all, in a democracy the voters are the bosses, and candidates are applicants for a well-paid job." (more) To read more about Paul Johnson or to contribute to his campaign, go here. |
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